The original Riptide GP was one of the first Tegra-optimized games to have more going for it than a pretty face. Now the sequel, Riptide GP2 has dropped on Android and it's still a real looker, but the features and gameplay have been enhanced too. This racer is compatible with nearly all Android devices, but it has special features just for Tegra 3 and Tegra 4.

There are no wheels here—Riptide is a jet ski racer, which affords it plenty of opportunity to show off its neat water physics. The setup is fairly conventional. You grab your jet ski and get to the starting line, then race your hardest to beat the other guys. The better you place, the more in-game currency you earn. You'll want to place as much as possible early one—the jet ski you start with is pretty bad.

The last Riptide game simply unlocked new jet skis as you advanced through the races, this time you buy them with your race winnings. There are also a plethora of upgrades you can get for each vehicle. Using an in-game currency system opens the door to in-app purchases, and the developers did include some in Riptide GP2. However, you can earn more than enough from placing in races. If you like playing the game, you shouldn't have to spend anything extra.

The learning curve in the new Riptide title has definitely been cranked up a bit. You can't just bounce off the walls and mash the accelerator to win races. It's actually nice to see the developers tighten up the gameplay like that.

The controls come in three flavors. There's tilt, on-screen, and controller. The controller is the best option, but not everyone has one laying around. The next best thing is the default tilt scheme. It seems responsive enough, and the acceleration button has a nice, big hitbox.

Riptide GP2 is $2.99 in Google Play. It's compatible with most devices, but looks best on Tegra 3 and 4. This is currently a Google Play exclusive with an iOS version is coming later.

Ryan Whitwam is a freelance tech/science writer and fan of all things electronic. This long-time skeptic and former research scientist is a lover of the em dash and a defender of the Oxford comma. He also writes for Geek.com and ExtremeTech.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanWhitwam
Google+: https://plus.google.com/100763287620455240154More »